Ball-socket ratchet wrench



May 22, 192s. 1,670,547

S. C. NORTH BALL SOCKET RATCHET WRENCH Filed NOV. 5, 1925 EE- l lill Cil

patented .ll/lay 22, i928.

nag-irren l stares Ltm F @fil id hi l? i?? f STANLEY c. `ivoi'vrn, on nAs'rWoon, ivnw YORK.

BALL-SOCKET RATCHET Application filed November This invention relates to certainimprovements in ball socket ratchet wrenches. The main object of the invention is the productionof a ball socket ratchet wrench of im-l in connection with the accompanying.draw-l ings in which t Figure l is an elevation of a wrench of 'this invention. j p f Figure- 2 is a section on line 2-2, Figure l. Figure 3 is a section on-line 3-3, Figure 2. Figure t is a section on line i-e, Figure l. The ball socket ratchet wrench here illustrated comprises a casing '-1- which may 'as here shown, be formed of a single piece of sheet metal bent into the form illustrated, or a similar one, and provided with a pair of registering substantially circular openings in its opposite side walls `-2- and -3-`; The casing as shown is of substantially rectangular form and its upper and lower walls are formed by flanges -4'- and Fion the side walls -3-v and -2- respectively locked to the opposite side wall by lugs -6-- and 7- formed on the side wallsl -2- and -3- respectively u This casing -lis adapted to receive and retain a ball *2liwhich has segmental portions projecting outwardly from the side walls through the respective openings7 and for the purpose of retaining the ball inthe casing,the openings in the side walls are made of slightly less diameter than 'the ball, and the side Walls as shown are spaced apart a distance considerably less than the diameter of the ball so that substantial portions of the ball project outwardly from opposite sides of the casing for a purpose and to permit the operation here-` inafter described.

Each of the segments of the ball that project from the casing has studs -25- and 26* respectively projecting outwardly therefrom and adapted to receive the rear end of a wrench, such as an ordinary socket wrench of any suitable form. One ofy these stud-s as -26- may he square in cross-section, Whereas the other stud 25- may be.

hexagonal, if desired, for the purpose of seating in diierent shaped wrench sockets 3, 1 525. Serial No. 66,500.

and in order to frictionally hold the Wrench socket in place, the studs may have trans-l verse openings in Which the spring pressed balls 8 are positioned. The forward end of the casing '-lis preferably as shown of spherical form on a radius substantiall equal to'fthe radius of the ball 24; l

It Will be obvious that the ball is capable of a universal movement Within the socket formed in the casing -1- `so as to permit operation at various and different angles and automatic adjustment to the .most suitable angle when the wrench is'in place.

A handle or lever -9 is providedh'aving a portion projecting into the lrearopen end of the casing 1'- and vpreferably' the 'handle is of a thickness.substantially the same as the distance between the side walls f-Q- and -'-3- of the casing so asr to effectl a re-enforcement of the casing'. This lever t9- is pivoted to the casing by means of a i l y pivot pin or screw `-10- extending through one side as -2-.-' of the casing, through the lever -9- and threaded into the opposite side as '-3- of the casing.v i

' The lever -9- is of a Width less than the distance between walls -lland -5- yso as tov permitV limited rocking movement of the lever aboutithe pivot -10- without contact with the upper and lower walls EL- andv -5 respectively. For the purpose of roktating therball w24* in eitherdirection desired7 the forward end ofthe lever -9- in front of'thepivot l0-is formedvwith asomewhat softer material than the pawls so that at each operation,`the respective pawl bites into and produces indentationsin the surface of the ball whereby a respectively positive engagement is eHected.

It will be obvious that by shifting the handle -9 about pivot +10-, one of these pawls will be brought into cooperative engagement with the ball so that no relative movement ofthe ball is permitted With respect to the handle and the Wrench then operates as a rigid body. Y

F or the purpose of holding the Wrench in position for operation by the `desired one of the pawls or corrugated surfaces 11 and 12, a spring lil is provided Which has one end secured to the lever m9- as by screw -15*, and its opposite end shi'itably engaged with a bar 16 having recesses 17 and 18 at its opposite end-s, Which recessesbow toward the screw and provide a means for `normally holdingthe adjacent end of the spring in therespective recess in Which it may be placed.

The ends of the bar 16.- are returned bent andsecnred' to the casing 1 at its rearportion, the bar being spaced from the casing to provide space in which the end of the spring engaged by the bar may slide to and from the respective recesses 17 and 18.

Altho I have shown and described a specificconstruction as' illustrative of an embodiment of my invention, I do not desire to restrict myself to the particular form or arrangement ofthe parts, as various changes maybemade Within vthe scope of the appended claims.

I claim: Y

1. Iny a device of the class described, the combination with a casing having a socket and a ball in said socket freely rotatable therein in any direction and having oppov sitely projecting portions, each ofsaid projecting portions including a Wrench part, of a. lever pivoted to the casing and having a roughened part formed of material harder than the ball, and adapted to engage the yball irrespective of the position of the ball in the socket.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination with a casing having asocket and aball in saidsocket freely rotatable therein in any direction and having oppositely projecting portions, leach of said projecting portions including a Wrench part, of

a lever pivoted to the casing and having opposed paWl parts formed of material harder than the ball and adapted to engage the ball irrespective of the position of the ball in the socket,

3. In a device of the class described, the combination With a casing having a socket and a ball in said Socket freely rotatable therein in any direction and having oppositely projecting portions, each of said projecting portions including a Wrench part, of a lever pivoted to the casing and having oppositely inclined spaced paWl parts formed of material harder than the ball and adapted to engage 'the ball irrespective of the position of the ball in the socket.

4. In a deviceof the class described, the combinationwvith a casing having a socket and a ball rin said socketA freely rotatable therein and having oppositely projecting portions, each of said projecting portions including ai Wrench part, of a lever pivoted' tothe casingand having oppositely inclined spaced paWl parts formed of material harder than thel ball and adapted to engage the ball, a bar at the rear ofthe casing andhavf ing spaced recesses, a spring having one end connected to the lever and its opposite end adapted to seat in either of said recesses for holding either. of said pavvl parts in engagement with the ball.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand ythis 21 day of October, 1925.v

STANLEY c. NORTH.' 

